Free Daily Headlines

Obituaries

Set your text size: A A A

Melba Needham, 96

Melba Needham, 96

Melba Needham, 96

Melba Needham, 96, passed on March 13, 2014, at Emeritus at Oak Hollow Memory Care Facility.

Mrs. Needham was born in Maynardville, Tenn., to the late Mack and Pearl Snodderly. After secretarial school in Knoxville, she married Bruce Needham on Sept. 11, 1937. Melba lived in Knoxville, Tenn., Corbin, Ky.,, and Hendersonville, where her husband managed the JCPenney store until his retirement in 1976. She and her husband moved to Texas in 2013.

A devoted daughter, mother, wife, and friend, Melba loved her Lord, family visits, giving, and traveling. She was active in the PTA and Ossoli Women's Club in Corbin, and taught Sunday School and kept crib babies at her church in Hendersonville. She tutored elementary school students in reading at Fletcher Elementary School. A special highlight of her life included a church trip to Egypt and the Holy Land.

Her family members extend special thanks to the loving staff of Emeritus at Oak Hollow and Grace Hospice in Texas and to those of Pine Park and First Baptist Church in Hendersonville.

Melba Needham was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Keck of Ohio.

Survivors include her husband of 76 years, Bruce Needham, age 98; son, John Needham and wife,Dolaine, of Richmond, Ky.; daughter, Diana Williams and husband, Tom, of Euless, Texas; grandchildren, Bryan Needham and Mark Needham of Ky., Tara Bowman and husband, Chad, and Joy Swacker of Texas; three great-grandchildren, William, Benjamin and John Paul Bowman; nephew, Doug Keck, and niece, Judy Byrd, of Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Association (2630 West Frwy, Ste. 100, Fort Worth, TX 76102, orwww.alz.org), to First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, or to a hospice of the donor's choice.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2014, at Thos. Shepherd & Son Church Street Chapel with Dr. Ryan Pack and Rev. Wally Shamburger officiating; special music by Dr. Pat Corn. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Thos. Shepherd and Son Funeral Directors.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.